As soon as she finished speaking, she noticed that when Yanyan lowered her head, the jade pendant she wore around her neck had slipped out – the very jade pendant she never left her body without. Feeling Madam Zhu’s gaze pressing down on her like a physical weight, Zhu Yanyan immediately noticed her jade pendant had slipped out. Her heart panicked, and she instinctively moved to tuck the jade pendant back into her collar. However, before she could act, Madam Zhu had already stepped forward with quick reflexes and yanked the jade pendant off.

The force was so great that a bloody scratch immediately appeared on Zhu Yanyan’s fair, slender neck.

“Mother, no!” Zhu Yanyan ignored the pain and hurriedly crawled forward on her knees two steps, trying to snatch back the jade pendant. But when she looked up, she was frozen in place by Madam Zhu’s cold gaze, those eyes filled with heartbreak and disappointment…

Zhu Yanyan bit her lip and slowly lowered her head.

As she lowered her head, Madam Zhu’s eyes contracted slightly. On her delicate white nape, a thin bloody scratch was seeping blood drops… it was from when she had just yanked the jade pendant and cut her.

But Zhu Yanyan, who in the past had been extremely delicate and would frown even when drinking medicine, seemed to feel no pain at all, only kneeling there silently.

Madam Zhu moved her lips but ultimately said nothing, flicking her sleeves as she left.

Walking to the door, she paused slightly in her steps and coldly ordered: “Watch the young lady well for me, and don’t let her leave the house again!”

The door slammed shut with a “bang.”

Zhu Yanyan knelt on the ground, biting her lip as tears immediately rolled down.

“Young lady…”

The wet nurse called out softly, stepping forward to help her up, but Zhu Yanyan remained kneeling motionlessly, not even raising her head.

The wet nurse burst into tears, “This old servant knows I’ve angered the young lady, but… but young lady, how could you… Madam is also doing this for your own good!” As she spoke, the wet nurse could no longer continue, crying inconsolably, looking even more heartbroken than Zhu Yanyan.

How could she not be heartbroken – the young lady had actually taken a fancy to a bandit and insisted on marrying him!

She was also foolish, serving the young lady closely every day, yet never discovering that the young lady harbored such thoughts. If not for Madam’s vigilance…

Today, after returning from Jinman Tower, she had privately sought out Madam, originally wanting Madam to vent anger for the young lady and teach those two presumptuous young ladies from the He and Shen families a lesson. But who would have thought that after hearing the whole story, Madam said nothing, remained silent for a long time, and only told her to watch the young lady.

She sensed something was wrong with Madam’s attitude and felt uneasy, but despite all her precautions, she never expected the young lady would dare to secretly meet with a man in her boudoir behind Madam’s back… and sure enough, Madam caught them red-handed.

Just as she was wiping her tears, she suddenly noticed the small wound on Zhu Yanyan’s nape and was greatly alarmed: “Young lady, you’re injured! Get up quickly…”

The wet nurse tried to pull her up.

But Zhu Yanyan still knelt there woodenly, refusing to move.

The wet nurse could only wipe her tears and carefully apply medicine to the wound.

Outside the door, Madam Zhu stood in the night wind for a long time.

Having managed the household for many years, she had seen countless storms. After calming down, she hardened her heart and left Zhu Yanyan’s courtyard, quietly erasing all traces of what had happened tonight… Fortunately, that thief had acted cleanly and left no trace.

The night was quiet and still.

The next day was beautiful weather, with warm morning sunlight spilling into the Shi family’s courtyard.

After the morning meal, Shi Fa Ke was responsible for washing the dishes, then mixed Dogsheng’s special food, and then lazily sat in the courtyard basking in the sun while watching Dogsheng peck at food from the bowl. Dogsheng was Father’s precious treasure and ate quite refined food.

Shi Fa Ke squinted at Dogsheng, her thoughts gradually drifting. She thought about how Ketian seemed quite angry yesterday, wondering how long she would stay angry and not come to play this time. But yesterday it was Ketian who started trouble first, and then there was Miss Shen from Jinman Tower causing trouble afterward. If that strange young master hadn’t righteously stepped in to help, how much grievance would Zhu Yanyan have suffered… Thinking of Zhu Yanyan, Shi Fa Ke thought of Lu Chi again. Why hadn’t his family arrived yet? If they delayed any longer, Zhu Yanyan would start overthinking again.

Just as Shi Fa Ke was thinking idly, she suddenly heard someone knocking at the door.

Shi Fa Ke felt something and quickly got up to open the door. Sure enough, standing outside was none other than Lu Chi. Her eyes lit up as she showed a big smile: “Young Master Lu, could it be that your family has arrived?”

…This smile was truly brilliant.

Lu Chi was momentarily dazzled by her overly brilliant smile and silently nodded: “Yes, my parents and elder brother have all come.”

“Wonderful! I was just thinking these past few days they should arrive.” Shi Fa Ke said, then suddenly paused: “Eh, what happened to your face?”

The bruises at the corners of his mouth and eyes that had previously faded were now much darker again, making him look rather pitiful.

“I accidentally bumped into a door, it’s nothing serious.” Lu Chi forced a smile with difficulty, but it tugged at the wound at the corner of his mouth, causing his eye to twitch in pain, which then affected the wound at the corner of his eye… He knew he shouldn’t have meddled in other people’s business. Let his big brother and Zhu Yanyan go to hell! What sympathy was he showing!

He had originally run away from home!

He had stupidly delivered himself into the trap by writing to let them come!

The result was that the first thing his father Lu Ting did upon seeing him was to give him a severe beating. What a loving father indeed – his strikes were as merciless as always. Now his whole body felt as if every bone had been taken apart and reassembled…

“Is it really nothing serious?” Shi Fa Ke looked up at him with concern.

Seeing her concerned gaze, Lu Chi was somewhat moved, his expression softening: “Mm.”

“Then let’s go quickly, let’s go to your place to talk.” Shi Fa Ke said, not inviting him in to sit, but directly walking out and closing the door behind her.

She seemed quite eager.

“…Talk about what?” Lu Chi didn’t react immediately, looking at her with a confused expression.

“Talk about your marriage, of course.” Shi Fa Ke walked a few steps, and seeing he hadn’t followed, turned back to wave at him: “Come on, what are you standing there for? Are you so happy you’ve gone silly?”

So happy he’d gone silly?

Lu Chi felt a pang in his heart, but despite feeling hurt, he still silently lifted his feet to follow. Being tall with long legs, he caught up with her in a few steps, walking alongside her.

As they walked, Lu Chi couldn’t help but glance at her sideways. He naturally knew that Zhu Yanyan had made a mistake in recognizing the wrong person and planned to make the best of it with a scheme of “repairing the plank road while secretly crossing at Chencang,” but Shi Fa Ke didn’t know the details. She still thought he was the one getting married.

He was getting married, and she was so happy?!

Lu Chi inevitably felt a bit moody, but Shi Fa Ke obviously couldn’t detect his little mood, walking happily on her own, truly heartless to the extreme.

“You’re very happy?” Lu Chi held back but finally couldn’t resist asking.

“Hm?” Shi Fa Ke looked at him strangely: “Aren’t you happy?”

Lu Chi choked and said coolly: “Happy.”

Shi Fa Ke nodded cheerfully and said with great feeling: “Your marriage was so difficult, now you’ve finally seen the moon through the clouds. I’m also relieved!”

She had staked her dignity as a matchmaker and sworn an oath, and had almost ruined her own reputation! Just thinking about it made her break out in a cold sweat.

Now she finally didn’t have to ruin her own reputation!

“Hehe.” Lu Chi laughed ambiguously: “That’s really troublesome for you.”

Great, this laugh also tugged at his facial wounds, and Lu Chi’s face contorted halfway through the laugh.

Shi Fa Ke got goosebumps from his laugh and looked at him suspiciously: “Lu Chi…”

“Mm?” Lu Chi responded carelessly.

“You look strange somehow…”

She was alert in this regard. Lu Chi snorted inwardly and turned to give her a smile: “I’m happy.”

Ah, his face hurt so much!

Shi Fa Ke looked at Lu Chi grinning and grimacing, silently shuddering… This person was getting even stranger!

The two talked as they walked and unknowingly arrived at Willow Leaf Lane.